Plants belonging to the genus Brassica (more specifically, varieties of the species Brassica oleracea) within the family Brassicaceaeor Cruciferae are referred as Cole Crops. Due to its high nutritional value, these crops (viz., cabbage, cauliflower, knolkhol, brocolii, toria, sarson and mustard etc.) are extensively grown in various parts of the world. It provides much needed dietary fibres, essential minerals and vitamins. Cole crops are also the major component of human diet throughout the world. It has been estimated that insect pest alone causes more than 40% of yield loss of vegetables annually.

Among all, the large white cabbage butterfly, Pieris brassicae and small white cabbage butterfly, Pieris repae (Pieridae: Lepidoptera) are the most destructive pests of cruciferous crops across the World, and often cause heavy losses in yield. It causes extensive damage in almost all parts of India, during seedling, vegetative and flowering stages of cole crops. During winter this pest survived in the plains and migrates to hilly regions during summer in India. Furthermore, they are highly fecund and voracious feeder and therefore make insecticidal applications necessary for cultivation of cruciferous crops. Besides higher cost, these insecticides cause undesirable side effects to the human health and thus, biological control are now gaining importance day by day.

Figure 1. Cabbage crop completely damaged by P. brassicae

Biology and nature of damage:

The caterpillars alone cause damage. The first instar caterpillars just scrap the leaf surface, whereas the subsequent instars consume up leaves from the margins inwards, leaving intact the main veins (Figure 1). Often, entire plants are eaten up. This is by far the most destructive pest on cole crops in hilly region of India

Spraying withAnonin or Derisom @ 2ml/litre of water at 15 days interval after 22-25 DAT of crop controls cabbage butterfly larvae effectively

Chemical control

Two sprayings of fenvalerate (0.1%) or deltamethrin (0.003%) at 15 days interval after 22-25 DAT manage the cabbage butterfly larvae and aphids. About 250 to 400 litres spray fluid is required for one hectare of crop.

Authors:

D. M. Firake and G T Behere

Division of Crop Improvement (Entomology)

ICAR Research Complex for NEH region,

Umiam, Meghalaya (India)

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